I published a blog last year (What’s the Magic? You Asked Time to Stop!) where I have written about two great lyricists of Tamil Movies namely Kannadasan and Vali. I thought I would follow that up with couple of more songs from these great poets but never got around to it. You always need a trigger to restart something and JK provided that few weeks back.

JK sent me a stanza from a song and asked me if would translate this into English to share it with his colleagues. JK, Mohan and I made few attempts to get that as close to possible in English so that what the poet meant would come out well. The exercise made me wonder how did these poets manage to write beautiful poems in a jiffy and we struggle for hours to even get the meaning correctly.

The lines which JK sent were simple yet powerful. The music was indeed melodious. Even after making many attempts at translating the lines with the help of JK & Mohan I still feel that we could get that just about right.

The song was written for the movie ‘Babu’ released in 1971. Sivaji (Ganesan) plays the role of a rickshaw puller and sings this ode to a child (Yes Superstar of Indian Cinema in later years). He narrates how he could see ‘The God’ in one simple smile of the child. He goes on to give her some advice and a couple of lines mesmerized us. Here it is:

You can watch it here; takes less than a minute. I have put subtitles as well. You will also understand why Sridevi is born to be an actress; amazing camera presence at such a young age.

There are many gems like these. Some of my favorites are;

ஓளிமயமான எதிர்காலம்
என் உள்ளத்தில் தெரிகிறது

‘A bright future

I see in my mind’

I always wanted the first line of the following song as my ringtone. Since most of friends, colleagues, customers and my bosses did not understand Tamil, I could never do it. It would have been an apt two liner, especially if your colleagues could understand it:

It is said MGR a popular movie hero who later became a successful politician and the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, assiduously made sure the songs in his films were directed at the masses, teaching them good habits and ways to lead a good life. So when he entered politics people thought he would do something good.

When he played the role of a farmer, he sang,

கடவுள் என்னும் முதலாளி
கண்டெடுத்த தொழிலாளி – விவசாயி விவசாயி

‘The God, an entrepreneur (boss)

Found out a worker –

He is the farmer.’

He sings to a bunch of poor workers in another film;

நான் ஆணையிட்டால் – அது நடந்துவிட்டால்
இங்கு ஏழைகள் வேதனை படமாட்டார்.

‘If I put an order and if that is carried out

The poor will never suffer.’

Here is another favorite of mine. I am not sure whether he sings this to the heroine or to himself, but these are definitely words of wisdom;

மாபெரும் சபையினில் நீ நடந்தால்
உனக்கு மாலைகள் விழவேண்டும்.

ஒரு மாற்று குறையாத மன்னவன் என்று
போற்றி புகழ வேண்டும்.

When you walk in amidst a huge gathering

You should be garlanded many times;

They should worship you saying –

You are a blemish less King.

You can watch here and understand how serious he is about his words. Here is the Link

Sorry I digressed far away from the title of the blog. Not only thousands of these well meaning songs were written with memorable music; they also wrote a million songs, called ‘Situation Songs.’ Since music is part of the Indian film industry, you needed an excuse to place a song. So they placed a song in every situation.

Boy goes out to get bit of fresh air (beach) and sees a beautiful girl. So he sings;

நான் காற்று வாங்க போனேன்
ஒரு கவிதை வாங்கி வந்தேன்

‘I went out to get some fresh air

But I got a poem (beautiful girl) instead.’

Like this, there is a song for every situation. If you are in love, if you have a breakup, if a baby is born, if friends fight, if they meet after many years

(அந்த நாள் ஞாபகம் நெஞ்சிலே வந்ததே – I recall the olden days).

Even if someone dies – somehow the composer and lyricist would produce a gem for that situation as well.

So far so good. What surprised me was, Kavignar Kannadasan wrote Six Commandments for life – for the hero to sing – after he buries a beloved one. The movie Aandavan Kattali (God’s Decree) was released in 1964. The song ‘Aaru Maname Aaaru’ is quiet popular even today after 5 decades and watched over more than 10 million times in YouTube.

So the hero buries his beloved one and starts on a pilgrimage. He is going to sing the Six Commandments of The God and chooses six important temples of Lord Muruga, called Arupadai Veedu, a commandment for each temple.

It is a kind of couplet with two commandments for each. The Tamil Word (ஆறு) has two meanings; It means Cool Down/Relax or it denotes the number Six. The poet has used the same word to denote – relax (oh mind) and then Number Six (Commandments).

ஆறு மனமே ஆறு -அந்த ஆண்டவன் கட்டளை ஆறு

ஆறு மனமே ஆறு -அந்த ஆண்டவன் கட்டளை ஆறு

Relax Oh Mind Relax- The God Has Made Six Commandments

Relax Oh Mind Relax- The God Has Made Six Commandments

சேர்ந்து மனிதன் வாழும் வகைக்கு தெய்வத்தின் கட்டளை ஆறு

For mankind to live together, The God Has Made Six Commandments

தெய்வத்தின் கட்டனை ஆறு…

There are six Commandments

ஒன்றே சொல்வார் ஒன்றே செய்வார்
உள்ளத்தில் உள்ளது அமைதி

People who say something and do the same thing

Will have peace in their mind

இன்பத்தில் துன்பம் துன்பத்தில் இன்பம் இறைவன் வகுத்த நியதி…

Sorrow in Happiness and Happiness in sorrow – God has made this rule

சொல்லுக்கு செய்கை பொன்னாகும்

Doing what you say is Gold
வரும் துன்பத்தில் இன்பம் பத்தாகும்

Happiness Multiplies Ten Times in Sorrow

இந்த இரண்டு கட்டளை அறிந்த மனதில்
எல்லா நன்மையும் உண்டாகும்
எல்லா நன்மையும் உண்டாகும்
People who understand these two commandments; Have peace in their minds

You can watch this video just to understand and appreciate Sivaji’s acting skills; as I said the best actor of Tamil Cinema. He was so dedicated to his profession and loved his craft. Whether he was paid one dollar or one hundred thousand dollars, he produced a million dollars worth of acting. He was born to act – period.

I was wondering why the hero became so philosophical after someone’s death. I have not watched the movie, so did not know ‘who’ he or she was. By sheer luck, I found out that he sings this immoral song after burying his pet dog. It just made me wonder, if the poet has produced God’s Six Commandments after the death of a pet dog, what would he have produced if it was the death of mother/father/children or spouse? Any guesses?

It is so refreshing to listen to these old songs. Not only the poets penned those unforgettable lines, they inspired hundreds of budding poets.

Compare these lines to what you get to listen these days

Hey Johnsi Rani, My Krishnaveni

I will buy you Pony, You ride and come to me

Lines written for instant gratification!

Do watch this video – the music is superb, the acting good and the lyrics immortal. And for one more reason as well. It took me few hours to add the subtitles.

Ramesh…mohan’s comment captures our thoughts on your writing efforts.
What I like is the choice of songs you have made which is flowing well through your blog.
It may be worth adding for the benefit of the next gen that what you have touched upon is just the micro tip of an iceberg.
Besides Kannadasan and Vaali dishing out pearls of wisdom just like that, there were others who wrote well but not as many like Pattukottai.
As we know what made these poems powerful and popular is the music. Hats off to the music directors of these songs.
As you have rightly said, the connect and longevity of the poem is truly established because of the artists who enacted these scenes.
a big applause to you for the excellent job

PS..(who ever is interested in learning more, please use you tube and search “kaalangalil Avan Vasantham” ..a program hosted by isai kavi Ramanan
.. Each episode, he invites a very knowledgeable person from various field to discuss about great songs written by Kannadasan. Like the way ‘idho enthan Deivamagal lines stuck me hard’, these speakers talk about the magic of Kannadasan’s creations.
If you understand Tamil is worth viewing this program.
Happy Sunday all